A colourant can be applied to the surface of an object, like paint or lacquer, or it may be integrated into the material, as in a dyed textile, a solid plastic or a stone.

• 染料可以被应用于一个对象的表面，像油漆或亮漆，或者它也许是联合入材料，在一件被洗染的纺织品、坚实塑料或者石头。